Mark Kimmitt on al-Jazeera

I was surprised to see an unexpected American official show up on al-Jazeera the other day:  Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt.  Kimmitt, the former spokesman for the American military in Iraq and now deputy director for strategy and plans at CENTCOM, went on al-Jazeera to talk about "the future of the American military presence in the region."

Mark Kimmitt and Ahmed Mansour in the al-Jazeera studio, April 5, 2006

Kimmitt didn't just go on al-Jazeera... he did the show No Limits, probably the most hostile environment for an American military official of any of al-Jazeera's programmes.  The host, Ahmed Mansour, not only has a well-deserved reputation as one of the toughest interviewers in the Arab media.   He is also one of the most broadly anti-American in his political outlook, and - of most direct relevance - was  the correspondent on the ground in Fallujah in April 2004 .   His reporting from Fallujah infuriated the American military and contributed to the early termination of that campaign. All of which makes Mansour's show a very interesting choice for Kimmitt's appearance.

What makes Kimmitt's appearance noteworthy is what it might mean for American public diplomacy.  There's been something of a war going on in the administration between those (like Karen Hughes) who think that American officials should go on al-Jazeera, since that's where the Arab political action and largest audience is;  and those (like, broadly speaking, the Pentagon and the Office of the Vice President) who see al-Jazeera as the enemy and think American officials should have nothing to do with it.  Thanks in large part to Hughes, there has been a really dramatic increase in the number of American officials appearing on al-Jazeera in the last few months. And she's taken a lot of heat from al-Jazeera's critics in the administration for it.   

The newly confirmed Defense Department spokesman Dorrance Smith is on record as describing al-Jazeera as actively collaborating with the Iraqi insurgency;  I've heard worse from others on that side of the debate.   Could Kimmitt's appearance on al-Jazeera signal a breakthrough in that internal struggle, with the Defense Department finally coming around to the Hughes position?   I don't know, but inquiring minds want to knkow.  I do note that for some reason the transcript doesn't show up on the Defense Department website, even though other transcripts dating later than this one do appear.  Is someone trying to conceal his al-Jazeera appearance?  From whom? 

Comments

[Jay C]

Just out of interest, AA: What sort of reception/treatment did Gen. Kimmitt get on Al-Jazeera? And what did he say?

It seems that this might the first (and so far ONLY) useful thing to come of having Karen Hughes as the Adminstration's official mouthpiece, since most of her running around the world has, so far, garnered her (and the US) little but mockery (well-earned, imo).

[Lloydyboy]

Kimmit wore his cammies (Battle Dress Uniform) in the studio? I think that's significant.

[Jamal]

Ahmed Mansour really has that reputation? I must admit I've never watched his shows for more than a few minutes at a time, so I'm asking the question out of genuine ignorance, but he seems like such a soft-spoken guy.

[The Lounsbury]

First, re more face time, I think that is excellent. Absence means that the US is ceding its image entirely to the hands of other parties. The US is too important to do that - regardless of the tedious little politics of the moment.

Second, re this,"seems that this might the first (and so far ONLY) useful thing to come of having Karen Hughes as the Adminstration's official mouthpiece, since most of her running around the world has, so far, garnered her (and the US) little but mockery (well-earned, imo).

Earned or not, the woman should not be kicked in the shins for making a clear effort to engage. It gets rather too special to always sneer at political officials. I am no fan of the US Administration, its politicies nor even Hughes, but her effort bears some respect for simply being made in a manner that put her out there in less-controlled circumstances.

That's not bloody easy, and a bit less empty sneering is in order.

[aardvark]

Jamal - you're right about the soft-spoken, but he does have that rep. Tenacious with questions, well-prepared, that sort of thing. Screaming isn't the only way to be tough!

Jay - by my read of the transcript, it was a tough hour, but neither one broke down in tears or anything. Tough on both ends - which for my money is better than meaningless pleasantries. I'll try to offer something more detailed later if I have time.

[davesgonechina]

Bet you won't see that on MEMRI either.